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 - 7:31 pm
All pictures from the Associated Press
6 September 6, 2008 - 12:12am | cigi
I am so glad that Palin has been nominated because it led me to this blog and you folks really discuss your politics, pro and con. It is truly refreshing. I am going to recommend your publication to others. I love the civility of your discussions. Keep up the good communication.!
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5 September 5, 2008 - 11:10pm | Sarahmerica
The Honey Bucket Governor's Record...
Sarah Palin "governs" a state with over 40 billion dollars in the bank, but that's if you call "governing" allowing your constituents to live in abject poverty. Rural Alaska has the highest rates of suicide, alcoholism, tuberculosis (yes - TB!), rape, incest, and domestic abuse in America. She "governs" over all of this, while turning a blind overly-eye-shadowed eye to Alaskans who aren't in the oil, gas, or mining industry.
In a state with tens of billions of dollars, many people in Sarah Palin's great state of Alaska have no running water. This means they have no flush toilets and must resort to using "honey buckets," perhaps one of the most unsanitary household "appliances" ever. The ancient romans had better sanitation than many Alaskan Native villages.
She has made tough decisions. Decisions that community organizers haven't made ---- she made the tough decision not to help those in her state who needed it most. sarahmerica.blogspot.com
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September 6, 2008 - 12:05pm | jacekones
After all, we R's are the law and order crowd.
Thank you for the reminders about the problems in rural Alaska. It needs attention. If the veep nomination can serve any worthwhile purpose, that would be it.
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4 September 4, 2008 - 6:35pm | katie_doe
"Why is Chelsea Clinton so ugly? Because Janet Reno is her father".
-John McCain, 1998
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September 5, 2008 - 9:06pm | MeganLarson
Thank goodness he apologized for such a rude, ignorant, tasteless and thoughtless "joke." It's a good thing to apologize when we've gone too far...right, Dog?
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September 5, 2008 - 4:37pm | rfn
be so angry with Janet Reno?
I mean anybody who wasn't actually at Waco?
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September 5, 2008 - 7:57pm | katie_doe
So, do you think Track was required to join the military on 9/11 as part of an agreement?
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September 5, 2008 - 8:34pm | rfn
No, that's the date he's to be deployed to Iraq. At least if we're talking about the person spoken of during Ms. Palin's excellent address at the Republican National Convention.
As to the accusations, elsewhere in this blog an individual bravely signing what seems to be his own name indicates he was involved in the fabled vandalism and that the object of your imagination was not. Of course it could be just a false username; perhaps even one used by someone who has been repeatedly banned and just keeps comin' on home. Though I think it unlikely....he seemed quite sincere.
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3 September 3, 2008 - 10:03pm | rfn
Troopers and APD are reliably reported to be on special alert tonight for DUI.
Great concern that enthusiastic party-goers may have overdone it. Even more that those drowning their sorrows may expire in other and more colourful ways, taking innocent people with them.
If at all in doubt, good idea to stay put and sleep it off.
It is said the teams have breathalyzers and, this time, will use them!
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2 September 3, 2008 - 9:59pm | jacekones
"most peculiar vice presidential choice ever"
He stated tonight that he sees nothing in her and that she brings NO economic background to the ticket. He's quite funny. But, after all these goons called her "smart" I wondered how I missed her brilliant intellect.
Ben Stein is miffed by this pick.
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1 September 3, 2008 - 7:56pm | n0se
Levi Johnston's Convention Diary
Oh, oh, don't look now but the National Enquirer may have dredged up another nugget
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September 3, 2008 - 11:27pm | bobbyc
Levi is a very good speller.
Why is McCain threatening a lawsuit against the National Enquirer? That makes it seem like the affair story may be true.
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September 3, 2008 - 11:11pm | DEM53
I've heard this before but didn't know whether true or not. NE has been spot on latley
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September 3, 2008 - 8:59pm | n0se
If what Dillon is reporting is true, then again this will be another non-starter.
Wait until the media descend on her former church and start digging up every piece of dirt that they can find there.
There are rumors about her son as well, in my mind they are totally irrelavent.
What bothers me is when she's on a national stage and she just flat out lies about the Bridge to Nowhere earmark.
And now it's revealed that she used Steven Silver, who, if you remember, I put on my top 10 list of people who are going to be indicted, to secure earmarks for the City of Wasilla.
d0g, I think that you and I agree, this is just nuts.
Get used to it though, because this feeding frenzy isn't going away anytime soon.
Must be good for the shoulder season in hotel and car rentals though.
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September 3, 2008 - 9:27pm | TheSdog
so many angles to hit her with they just cannot figure out what to do next.
The "outsider" argument is being effectively muffled with the bridge and her history of using one of your fav lobbyists. "Troopergate" and her involvement with the Stevens 529 are also big problems.
Under normal circumstances I would say they need to be careful with the family stuff. However, the sheer amount of things that are being exposed make it a problem for her.
Her speech was not bad tonight but she looked stiff and came across insincere at times. It was also painfully obvious she was reading from a script. At the end of the day it was also the same Republican arguments which are not going to work in this election.
The speech writers let her down tonight on content. The speech was slow getting to anything of substance, put her family front and center, lacking in details, and not anything groundbreaking. It also thumped the bible too hard which although good for the base will turn the stomachs of swing voters who are much more important.
No names shall be dropped but there are those who are trying to carry the torch for her and cringing in private. Very similar to the case mentioned on here when the mic was left on. It is amazing how many Rs out there are desperately trying to make this work.
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September 3, 2008 - 9:33pm | rfn
you have an excess of allegations.
The issue is that when they are too numerous they all taken on a stink of fabrication and opportunism.
Though some swing voters may have been turned off, the gigantic right wing that had pretty well decided to stay at home are stocking up on gas for the drive to the polls!
This bodes ill for Mayor Mawk and Mr. Berkowitz-Pelosi. A big Republican and Independent turnout is what they (should) fear most!
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September 3, 2008 - 9:43pm | TheSdog
Dubya had great mobilization of the base 4 years ago against a candidate far less vibrant than Obama. It ios scary that a corpse like Kerry cam as close as he did.
This race was over before Palin was choosen. VP candidates do not causemajor shifts historically and that is actually good news for McCain.
The base was coming out anyway but the ds are ticked off and they will be out in even greater numbers this time. The over/under for Obama sits at 330 EV right now.
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September 3, 2008 - 9:58pm | rfn
Would be nice to see McCain win to gridlock the Democrat Congress though, even with Palin as his attack dog he might not be up to the task.
Would be nice to see Obama, Pelosi and Reid dig a near-permanent hole for The Democrat Party - a 12 to 16 year hole.
In any case, what had been a boring constitutional exercise is now a contest. The juicy bonus is that a massive Republican landslide dooms Mayor Mawk and Mr. Berkowitz-Pelosi.
The upside of a McCain loss (though a Parnell loss would work as well) is that the 9% wonder, Tony, Lyda and the one other lady who's salivating for a new shot at it won't have to come to blows. Hey, we gotta save something fun for the following regularly scheduled election!
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September 3, 2008 - 10:04pm | TheSdog
DY is likely to survive and beat Francisco Berkowitz.
Marky Mark still looks golden to me in the Senate race. My suspicion is that The Palin would have endorsed Ted or at least suggested endorsement before the VP nod. Now, she has to keep as long a distance as possible from Uncle Ted especially with the lefties chasing down the connections.
As the onslaught on The Palin continues there is a real possibility it could end up being one of the worst things ever for women and Alaska. The country and the state deserved someone up to the task to being the first Alaskan and woman on the R ticket. Neither got it.
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September 3, 2008 - 10:08pm | rfn
is twofold. First that he has proven he cannot control even his own base. Dispute that if you will though objective observers understand.
Second, the allegations are piling up so fast that they are acquiring a stench of fabrication. Were I into game playing I'd start up a couple that are totally false. Just planting them, mind, so that when they explode they'd put their stink on all of 'em. In fact, I'm not certain that someone else hasn't already figured that out.
As to Mayor Mawk/Berkowitz-Pelosi, well a .500 average ain't bad. Important thing is that the boy mayor, should he become the boy senator, cannot originate a national property tax from The Senate. He really should run for the House but didn't think it through.
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September 3, 2008 - 10:20pm |
This post was deleted for being off topic or violating the ADN user agreement. We encourage readers to "flag" offensive or off-topic comments for review by ADN staff.
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September 4, 2008 - 5:29pm | Cartman3_15
'Bout time Dog and his personal attacks got deleted.
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September 4, 2008 - 9:00pm | TheSdog
But rfn has to be somebody's crazy uncle?
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September 4, 2008 - 7:11am | akgen
he he he ...
OMG sdoggie's post is tooo funny...
If there is anything I've learned from the soap opera of the ADN blog, it is how each will argue our respective opinions... this latest from sdoggie speaks volumes about how to lose and dare to never admit it.
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September 4, 2008 - 11:30am | bobbyc
Did you attend Wasilla Assembly of God with Sarah Palin?
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September 4, 2008 - 8:16am | Cartman3_15
that he appears to think nobody can see through his dishonest tactics.
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September 3, 2008 - 9:02pm | rfn
Let's hope those politican tourists
research who owns various hotels and car rentals. They they can make a political decision on where to say and what to rent.
The downside is that there'll be tourists driving around even into winter in conditions they cannot comprehend. Search and rescue budgets may need serious augmentation!
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September 3, 2008 - 8:24pm | jacekones
Dillon confirms it.
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September 3, 2008 - 8:04pm | rfn
Well, try at a dodge. Miss the speech?
Advice to Governor Palin:
If Barry's belle Michelle invites you over for dinner, bring Halcro along to taste everything.
Do try the link, though. One of the closing lines is priceless. It hints that Democrats might think twice before pushing the tawdry. Apparently Huffington (it's her blog the link goes to) also believes that bats might forget how to fly; sharks might forget how to swim and snakes might forget how to slither.
Them critters just gotta do what God created them to do!
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7 September 8, 2008 - 9:06pm | gkaye
Her biggest asset are made in Japan
All day I have been reading about her glasses, then I came across this hubpage that stated it very clearly, her glasses were made in Japan! I bet she drives an import. Of all the people I thought would be American tried and true, it would have been her.
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