Alaska Politics Blog : Wall to wall, pt. 2

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.

Contributors

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

Features

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.

Wall to wall, pt. 2

Posted by Alaska_Politics

Posted: August 25, 2008 - 7:21 am

From David Hulen in Anchorage --

Starting about Friday, the campaign commercials on local television kicked into hyperdrive -- new ads, old ads and one constant: that Vic Vickers spot that we'll all be hearing in our sleep.

Let's start with a new round of ads by the Republicans in the U.S. House primary:

Sean Parnell - Dark image of U.S. Capitol and references to scandal, spending and high gas prices, and a weird image of Don Young in a spotlight. Then things get all bright with Parnell. Stands with his famly. "Together we can make Alaska proud." No Palin.

Don Young- "This is not about Don Young - this is about the job and how it can be done." Warm music. Raises voice: "Seniority does work and is valuable for the state of Alaska." Mentions fire in his belly.

If that spot presents Young in something of a soft light, this covers other ground: A new radio attack ad directed by Young's campaign at Parnell and his Club for Growth support - "Deal with the devil." It's actually a counter-attack, given the CFG's own attack ads on Young. The latest of those is further down in the post.

Gabrielle LeDoux - "They took bribes. Sold votes....They wanted Gabrielle LeDoux to go along. She said no. Hell no!"

More after the jump.

New Club for Growth ad attacking Young. Again, dark music - "Don Young, after 35 years just another Washington politician."

New Ethan Berkowitz ad.

Diane Benson ad that's airing now.

***

Watch the others we posted last week here. Know of other new ones? E-mail me.

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8 August 25, 2008 - 10:13pm | Stags__Leap

Ethan Berkowitz is not from Alaska.

We do not need his liberal California ways. Alaska has only one seat in the U.S. House. Let's not put it under the control of Nancy Pelosi.

7 August 25, 2008 - 10:09pm | Stags__Leap

Ray Metcalfe for Senate

Remember, Ray was right. He's our man now for the Senate. Keep that liberal Begich in Anchorage.

August 25, 2008 - 10:39pm | AK_Lady

Imitation is the best compliment!

The real Stags, "Stags_Leap" apparently has a fan club!

6 August 25, 2008 - 12:46pm | darkdakota

So Why DiD Don Young Fail AK Veteran When McCain Came Thru?

On KBYR two years ago the mink biter Young LIED and claimed he had met with a 100% service connected disabled vet twice that had asked him for help with a civil rights complaint with the US Army. He lied and said he was working with the Army diligently to find a solution. John Mitchell, the veteran called KBYR back after Young ended that answer prematurely as well and was put on the air to correct Don Young's outright LIES.

The US Army Inspector General called the IG report done at Ft Richardson by LTC James Buckingham "fraudulent" in a letter to YOUNG'S office. The US Army refused to release the report. Patriot Act US Attorney Nelson Cohen and Chief Federal Judge John Sedwick refused to allow them to be released. This despite the fact the Nelson Cohen used part of the investigation in a court filing. LTC Buckingham is the guy now living with his wife, PaPa Pilgrim's wife and 29 intermarrying kids up on Lazy Mtn (according to an ADN story).

After TWO YEARS of trying to get our own Don Young to help the disabled vet and Young showing nothing but impotency in dealing with the US Army Alaska...John McCain came to the vet, John Mitchell's assistance and forced the Army to release not only the IG report but also the 200 page AR15-6 report done by Col David Shutt.

What does this report show? Nothing less then a disbarrable act by Alaska's Patriot Act US Attorney Nelson Cohen. He KNOWINGLY submitted fraudulent evidence into Sedwick's court that Sedwick accepted in deciding Mitchell's case. The woman that signed the letter stating that Mitchell never submitted an EEO complaint, Wanita Pressley, was admonished for signing that letter. She was counseled by her superior because Wanita Pressley did not hold the position she claimed to in the evidence Cohen presented to the court. In a email released in the report there is also several pieces that prove that John Mitchell did indeed submit a Civil Rights violation as claimed. Including Wanita Pressley admitting she had the file "on her desk" and BG Hirai's hand written notes.

The US Army Alaska gave Patriot Act US Attorney Nelson Cohen the report two years ago. Cohen knew he was hiding a Civil Rights violation on a 100% disabled veteran and very possibly a criminal violation, an assault and email death threats on John Mitchell in order to win a civil suit against the US Army and put a feather in his cap.

Why isn't Civil Rights violations on a 100% service connected disabled veteran important enough to get Don Young's help? Why did it take John McCain to "make it happen"?

Why is Patriot Act US Attorney Nelson Cohen being allowed to present FRAUDULENT evidence into court with no oversight? Where is the outrage from Alaska's elected trio like there was when Cohen was appointed Patriot Act US Attorney? All three Murkowski, Stevens, and YOUNG were asked for assistance. ALL three have failed this Alaskan miserably.

I have stopped being hoodwinked that these three are indespensible to Alaska and it's citizens. It's the other way around...Young NEEDS Alaska and it's citizens. If for nothing else for his ego and his legal defense fund.

McCain gets this veterans vote! Thank you sir for stepping in when Alaska's Don Young FAILED!

Robin Boerner
MakeTheArmyHonest.Com

5 August 25, 2008 - 8:47am | black33

The "Club" for Growth isn't conservative- neither is Parnell

The "Club" is a Beltway PAC with one mission- to make sure that multimillionaires don't pay taxes.

Need health care? Tax the middle class, they say, not us poor multimillionaires.

Need veterans services? Tax the middle class, they say, not us poor multimillionaires.

Need better schools? Tax the middle class, they say, not us poor multimillionaires.

Need improved transportation? Tax the middle class, they say, not us poor multimillionaires.

Need to finance a war. Tax the middle class, they say, not us poor multimillionaires.

Sean Parnell should be ashamed to take so much dough from a group which is opposed to the interests of most Alaskans.

August 25, 2008 - 10:47am | LilysDaddy

Uh, black33?

Are you really that uniformed about the U.S. income tax structure?

- The share of taxes paid by the bottom 50 percent of taxpayers = 3.6 percent (of all income taxes paid)

- The share of taxes paid by the top 1 percent of taxpayers = 33.7 percent (of all income taxes paid)

Or, looked at another way, the top 50 percent of American wage earners pay nearly 97 percent of all income taxes paid. All of these figures, by the way, reflect the income tax structure *after* the Bush tax cuts.

Kinda gives the lie to your "multimillionaires" rant and the subject of taxes, doesn't it.

Oh, btw, you need to adhere to ADN's new (or newly reintroduced) policy of stating only fact and backing it up with supporting evidence. So you'll need to point us to evidence that the Club for Growth actually "says" the things you ascribe to them.

Otherwise, we'll just have to conclude you're making things up, won't we?

August 25, 2008 - 2:55pm | black33

Who do you believe: The "Club" for Growth, or Warren Buffet?

Who do you believe: the "Club" for Growth and lilys"daddy", or Warren Buffet.

Buffet is on record saying that the tax system does not require people like him to pay their fair share.

"daddy's statistics ignore the share of income earned by the top 1%, which does not include the trusts, offshore accounts, and other devices that wealthy people have to shield their income from income tax.

Perhaps 'daddy and 'dog will support capping middle class income taxes at the lowest % paid by any multimillionaire-billionaire.

August 25, 2008 - 3:32pm | TheSdog

b33

In a perfect world we would have a flat tax or a national consumption tax or ideally a combination of both.

The current system does not hurt people like Hollywood actors or the Warren Buffets and Bill Gates. They are the richest of the rich.

It hurts people like me. The people who make good salaries but earn most of their money. We get slammed by the IRS and they rape me on any extra dollar I make. It has become progressively more difficult to shelter earned income and the deductions that do exist vanish quickly.

It is as laughable to hear the ultrarich talk about their fair share as it is the people making dirt talking about fair share.

The flat tax would do what you want and a consumption tax would end up putting some progressivity into it. Come on aboard b33.

August 25, 2008 - 3:22pm | LilysDaddy

Uh, black33?

Do you know how to create hyperlinks? You're quoting "fact" but providing no proof.

Link us to the source. Otherwise we'll just continue to assume you're making things up.

ADN's blog policy--"[s]tate something as fact that’s not established to be fact. Offer no back-up" exists for a reason.

August 25, 2008 - 12:56pm | TheSdog

Been through it before with b33

It is more interesting to look at the top 10% that actually pay 85-90% of the taxes.

The last number you cite is the most concerning. When we get to the point when 50% of the population is paying almost nothing and has no stake in things they will always vote to take and take.

You should remember your conservative ideals and realize that your support of Palin is misguided.

4 August 25, 2008 - 8:33am | LilysDaddy

A message from Don Young:

"This is not about Don Young."

"This campaign is not about Don Young. Oh, I'll be replaced, someday. But for now, I've still got the fire in my belly and the desire to represent all Alaskans once again.

"If, that is, you voted for me last time. I'll continue to represent you, particularly if you contribute to my legal fund, uh, political campaign.

"Please send all political contributions to the Washington, D.C. law firm of Akin, Gump, Strauss, Hauer and Feld. Note: some of your contributions may be directed to Tobin, O'Connor and Ewing, another Washington, D.C. law firm that is also representing my interests as I cooperate with the Department of Justice. Oh, and some of your contributions may actually go to John W. Wolfe, a prominent Seattle white-collar defense attorney who represents Steven Dougherty, my campaign manager, who is unfairly being investigated by the FBI.

"Thank you. And remember: together we can return integrity and honesty to government."

August 25, 2008 - 11:52am | Stags_Leap

Jimmy Carter was refreshing change, too

until he made it into office and brought the country to its knees.

If you want change -vote for LeDoux. Parnell doesn't have an ounce of authenticity to him. Young does -love him or hate him. LeDoux does too.

3 August 25, 2008 - 8:32am | dhenderson

Sean Parnell is a refreshing change

and would be a fresh in DC. Don Young has outlived his usefulness and has lost touch with the same people he is now trying to garner support from. I wish I could say I was surprised when he showed up at Sean's campaign headquarters, but his arrogance is and will be his downfall. If Alaska re-elects Don Young, we will lose all credibility.

2 August 25, 2008 - 8:13am | dab

Parnell For Congress

A Time For a Fresh Look and Change.
Enough of the good old boys.

1 August 25, 2008 - 8:03am | Stags_Leap

Love the Don Young radio ad

framing Parnell's deal with the Club for Growth -as a deal with the devil.

I would also suggest putting the quote from the founder of the Club for Growth -in BOLD FONT in TV and newspaper ads -where he calls senior citizens a bunch of whiners who are a drain on our economy.

Senior citizens in Alaska need to know more about the Club for Growth...a group that is disrespectful to our elders. And the group is bank-rolling three-quarters of Parnell's campaign. As such, we are better off with Young or LeDoux.

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