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

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.

Bob Poe running for governor - 1/7/2009 1:50 pm

Before the storm - Palin e-mails from Aug. 27 - 1/7/2009 12:07 pm

Reid on punishment for Stevens - 1/7/2009 7:32 am

Polling on Palin vs. Murkowski - 1/6/2009 3:24 pm

Citgo 'suspends' free heating oil program - 1/5/2009 2:37 pm

Palin's comments on first grandchild - 12/31/2008 4:35 pm

Suicide council audit - 12/30/2008 9:11 pm

Son of Snowzilla - 12/30/2008 8:55 pm

'People' editor: No deal for baby photos. Yet. - 12/30/2008 1:12 pm

'Baby Name Bible' - 12/29/2008 8:14 pm

Anchorage Mayor: Begich out, Claman in Jan. 3 - 12/26/2008 12:40 pm

No trash power? (Plus: School board pay) - 12/26/2008 11:22 am

PETA's beef with Palin - 12/24/2008 12:02 pm

"The opportunities that were not seized." - 12/22/2008 1:48 pm

Palin's next big speech? - 12/22/2008 12:37 pm

Here we go - a look at potential 2010 election matchups (and Palin popularity) - 12/20/2008 1:42 pm

Hawker to Palin: Try again - 12/19/2008 5:11 pm

Video: Palin on salary, energy plan - 12/19/2008 9:58 am

Walt Monegan is planning to run for mayor - 12/18/2008 4:40 pm

Covering Juneau - 12/17/2008 5:07 pm

Palin says no to raise; energy plan delayed - 12/17/2008 2:19 pm

Meyer joins majority, gets LB&A (Updated with McGuire, Menard joining too) - 12/16/2008 5:45 pm

'I know how to multi-task'

From Kyle Hopkins in Anchorage --

The governor's office just sent this announcement.

August 29, 2008, Anchorage, Alaska – Governor Sarah Palin today released the following statement to Alaskans:

“It is the honor of my life to represent you as your Governor, and over the next two months I will continue to do so. As the mother of five, I know how to multi-task, and I will continue to promote the path of reform that we set out on together in the state of Alaska.”

“It is a great privilege to be John McCain's running mate and to be considered by the American people for the Vice Presidency. This honor is a testament to the reforms and progress we have made together in Alaska. Now is the time to take that spirit of reform to Washington.”


  4     August 29, 2008 - 1:44pm | Che_Eastwood

Palin to the future!!!

MCCAIN has finally, against all odds, gotten even Bill Clinton to vote republican...lol...(although Palin is more than double the age of Bill's preferred prey.) Richard Thomas, Dwight, IL. AmericanDreamSeeker@mchsi.com

  3     August 29, 2008 - 1:32pm | rfn

No Democrat Dare

demand the governor resign to campaign.

They've already approved the practice of running while holding office; witness Mayor Mawk!

Of course hypocrisy is not totally unknown in Alaska.....so maybe we might hear a whimper.

  2     August 29, 2008 - 1:32pm | den_eld

Finally sone one women can look up to

Thank you Alaska. I am a grandmother raising 2 special needs children. We live in Chicago where they are 49th in the united states helping disabled children. We are losing our home we cannot pay our bills to get the help and treatment for the 2 children we are raising. We have been praying for soneone like Sara to run someone that understands what parents of special needs children go through. Thank you Alaska for sharing her with all of us.

  August 29, 2008 - 7:24pm | MeganLarson

Special Needs children

I agree that Sarah can bring national attention to special needs babies. I met her in January before I knew I was pregnant with my special needs baby, who I am currently 8 months pregnant with and who is diagnosed with congenital diaphragmatic hernia, a condition with a 50% survival rate and no known causes. Sarah was 3-4 months pregnant with her little Down Syndrome baby at the time but we Alaskans didn't know about her pregnancy until she was 7 months pregnant and a reporter noticed her baby bump. She absolutely understands what we are going through and maybe she can bring attention to the health needs of our children.

  August 29, 2008 - 8:10pm | AK_Lady

Speaking of a "baby bump"

I think the Guv's gonna be a grandma soon!

  August 30, 2008 - 9:28am | Cartman3_15

What a miserable existence

you must lead.

  August 30, 2008 - 11:48am | rfn

Miserable?

No.

Depraved?

  August 30, 2008 - 10:00am | AK_Lady

Miserable?

No way! I think babies are wonderful little gifts from God!

ARE YOU BLIND? Watch the video of the acceptance speech. Look at Bristol when she walks out. Cindy and Meghan try to shield her, but they couldn't the entire time. Look at the People Magazine picture. duh

  August 30, 2008 - 7:47pm | MeganLarson

Baby Bump

Your accusations are ridiculous. It's as silly as people claiming that Trig is actually Bristol's baby. Haven't you ever had a poofy abdomen from menstruating or being premenstrual??

It's sad that this is all Sarah opponents can come up with.

  August 31, 2008 - 12:40am | AK_Lady

Yeah, baby bump

It's not an "accusation", Megan. It's an observation. To me, she looks pregnant. If you don't agree - fine!

My observation has nothing to do with Sarah Palin. I'm not "coming up with" anything.

'Poofy from menstruating or being premenstrual'? Now who's being ridiculous?

And btw, I think the rumor about Trig not being Sarah's is silly.

  August 31, 2008 - 2:36pm | MeganLarson

Wait

So you've never been bloated during your cycles? Or known other women who have been? It's kind of a normal thing. It's not ridiculous. It's why they make Midol.

You are entitled to your opinions. I simply think it's in poor taste to speculate about such a thing. Time will prove one of us correct.

  September 1, 2008 - 12:30am | AK_Lady

Megan

I've never been bloated enough during a cycle to look like that. Did you watch the video of the acceptance speech when BP walked out?

Thank you for allowing me to be entitled to my opinion. I see what I see; it's very obvious.

  August 31, 2008 - 2:56pm | rfn

We're relying

on a gender assumption not supported by even a photograph.

  August 30, 2008 - 9:41pm | rfn

Sad?

Yes.

Surprising?

Hardly.

  1     August 29, 2008 - 1:14pm | TheSdog

Someone

obviously told her to not quit her day job and with good reason.

  August 29, 2008 - 1:33pm | rfn

Was that advice

extended to the boy mayor as well?

  August 29, 2008 - 1:42pm | seewhy

probably not

he's nearing the end of his second term, though and she's 18 months into the first term.