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
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
Posted: September 3, 2008 - 3:30 pm
Republican presidential candidate Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., is greeted at the airport by Republican vice presidential candidate Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, and her family as well as Cindy McCain, right, and family upon his arrival in Minneapolis today. From left to right: Track Palin, Piper Palin, Willow Palin, Levi Johnston, Trig Palin, Bristol Palin and Todd Palin. (AP /Susan Walsh)
From Lisa Demer in Anchorage --
Gov. Sarah Palin didn't make it to the big anti-abortion shindig in St. Paul Tuesday night to collect her award, a porcelain doll representing all the unborn babies, but she was still star of the hour.
"We decided a couple of months ago that she was the most exciting person in the Republican Party and that's why we invited her to receive an award from us at our party," Phyllis Schlafly, founder of the conservative Eagle Forum, said Wednesday in a phone interview from St. Paul. She's head of the Republican National Coalition for Life, which always throws a party during the convention.
At the last minute, the Republican coalition heard from the "powers that be" that keynote speaker Palin wouldn't be going anywhere the night before her big speech, Schlafly said. Palin takes the stage today at the Republican National Convention as John McCain's pick for vice president.
A press release from Schlafly's group said the "Giuliani-dominated liberal core of the McCain-Palin campaign team appears to have applied pressure for Sarah Palin to 'abort' her appearance at the pro-life event."
Debbie Joslin, president of Eagle Forum Alaska, picked up the award for Palin.
The late cancellation didn't matter as far as support for Palin, Schlafly said.
"It is positively amazing the way the announcement of her being on the ticket has invigorated, energized, enthused the entire Republican Party across the board.
"I haven't seen anything like it since Reagan."
Before McCain surprised the world Friday by picking Palin, there wasn't much gusto, Schlafly said.
"Up until that moment, I was hearing everyday from people who well they just felt they had a hard pill to swallow with McCain. They might willing to vote for him but they weren't willing to do any work."
McCain is "acceptable" as a pro-lifer, she said. "He's OK. It isn't his top issue. But I have every reason to say he would sign any pro-life bill that Congress would pass."
The big thing will be Supreme Court nominations - at least two seats are expected to come open, she said.
"Gov. Palin is known for being a pro-lifer who walks the walk as well as talks the talk, especially with her fifth baby we all know about," Schlafly said, referring to Trig, born in April with Down syndrome.
On Monday, Palin announced that her 17-year-old daughter, Bristol, is five months pregnant.
"It certainly relates to the pro-life message because they are not trying to hide or get rid of the baby," Schlafly said. "The baby will be born and we understand she will marry the guy and I hope they live happily ever after. She did make the pro-life decision."
As vice president, Palin wouldn't really have any official duties that would further the cause, Schlafly said, but her story "is a tremendous message to the world."
Palin missed a great party, Schlafly said.
"Well, we're for her anyway. ... I don't see how attending our party would make her any more pro-life than she already is."
2 September 3, 2008 - 4:11pm | metanoia2k
"Hot Mike" Catches Republicans Trashing Palin On Air
After a segment with NBC's Chuck Todd ended today, Republican consultant Mike Murphy and Wall Street Journal columnist Peggy Noonan were caught on a live mike ridiculing the choice of Sarah Palin.
"It's over," said Noonan, who then responded to a question of whether Palin is the most qualified Republican woman McCain could have chosen.
"The most qualified? No. I think they went for this — excuse me — political bullshit about narratives," she said. "Every time the Republicans do that, because that's not where they live and it's not what they're good at, they blow it."
Murphy chimed in:
"The greatness of McCain is no cynicism, and this is cynical."
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CrG8w4bb3kg
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September 3, 2008 - 6:27pm | TheSdog
The Rs are doing the best they can to spin it but most of them with a clue know it was a horrific choice.
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September 3, 2008 - 6:56pm | jacekones
She spins it herself. Sorry for the lack of a link.
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September 3, 2008 - 6:30pm | rfn
it would have been an Obama cakewalk; the conservative base would have stayed home and the small percentage of women who were for Hillary purely for gender reasons might have done the same or held their noses and voted Obama.
I almost hope it's not enough for McCain because whoever inherits the current economy will serve Jimmy Carter's second term and their party will be out of power for 12 to 16 years.
This would be a good time to elect Nader.
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September 3, 2008 - 9:40pm | TheSdog
was never going to stay home. That is a myth.
Obama did watch Dubya 4 years ago though. He has a formiddible ground game.
Palin slips at all or the family stories mount exposing her as a fraud and you better look out. They will not like it if the Jerry Springer surprises get into the double digits.
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September 3, 2008 - 9:46pm | rfn
It is appropriate for each to believe
what they hear from their own circles.
What we are each hearing seems out of phase. That means the things we're hearing don't match.
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September 3, 2008 - 10:12pm | jacekones
The repubs have been very worried about the base staying home in this election. They never worried the base would vote D, but that they wouldn't show up at all.
I wish politics were more principled, but its simply all about winning. What else explains this cynical choice?
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September 3, 2008 - 4:53pm | jacekones
Noonan is one of the opinion writers I respect the most. I always read her in the WSJ. Her instincts are good. I wish I could make out exactly what was said about KB Hutchison. Anybody?
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Important warning about e-mails purporting to be from the adn.com staff.
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3 September 3, 2008 - 7:21pm | farhome
trooper gate - and Gov. Palin's non-complaint 09-01
text of open letter to Alaska Att. Gen. Talis Colberg, re: Gov. Palin's ethics disclosure
-------- Original Message --------
Subject: Governor Palin's "Ethics Disclosure" of Sept. 1, 2008 -- Take No Action
Date: Wed, 03 Sep 2008 22:33:01 -0400
From: fornlen
To: attorney.general@alaska.gov
Wed. - Sept. 3, 2008
Open Letter to: Alaska Attorney General Talis J. Colberg
re: Governor Palin's "Ethics Disclosure" of Sept. 1, 2008 -- Take No Action
Attorney General Colberg,
Since Gov. Palin's recent selection as Sen. McCain's running mate, I
have spent some time reading about her on the Internet -- including
stories today in the "Anchorage Daily News" regarding the ethics
disclosure forwarded to your office by her attorney, Mr. Van Flein.
As this story and others regarding Gov. Palin are now receiving a
national audience, I am writing to you as a member of that audience. I
have read the document referenced above, and the relevant sections of
the Alaska Statutes. To avoid embarrassment to your office and to the
state of Alaska, I encourage you to take no action on this document.
First -- the document is, as its title says, a "Notice to the Attorney
General" by a public employee who is involved in a matter that may
result in a violation of AS 39.52.110 -.190, and made pursuant to AS
39.52.210 of the state's ethics in government laws.
What the document is NOT is a "complaint." It does NOT allege a
violation of state ethics laws. In fact, from the beginning quote just
below the title, to the closing paragraph twelve pages letter, the
document delineates in 60 itemized paragraphs that in this matter "there
is no violation of Alaska ethics law, and there is no plausible
allegation that there has been a violation." (subheading on p. 11, line 5)
Second -- in regard to the complaint process as stated in AS 39.52.310,
in subsection a) "The Attorney General may initiate a complaint, or
elect to treat as a complaint, any matter disclosed under AS 39.52.210,
.220, .250 or .260."
In subsection b) "A person may file a complaint with the Attorney
General regarding the conduct of a current or former public officer. A
complaint must be in writing, be signed under oath, and contain a clear
statement of the details of the alleged violation."
Third -- since 1) a document which maintains that no violation of ethics
law has occurred cannot be a "complaint" which details "the alleged
violation"; and since 2) the Attorney General cannot "reasonably" use a
document which maintains that no violation of law has occurred as a
means of arriving at a reasonable cause of action to initiate a
complaint; then 3) the Attorney General can, reasonably, take no action
on this document.
Sincerely,
Don Harris
Sebastian, Florida
1) Gov. Palin's "notice to attorney general" of 2008-09-01
http://media.adn.com/smedia/2008/09/02/19/ethicsdisclosureform9-1-08.source.prod_affiliate.7.pdf
2) Alaska ethics statutes
http://www.legis.state.ak.us/cgi-bin/folioisa.dll/stattx07/query=%5Bjump!3A!27as3952110!27%5D/doc/%7B@16068%7D?
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