Alaska Politics Blog : Wally for Palin (Updated again, 9/5)

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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

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Wally for Palin (Updated again, 9/5)

Posted by Alaska_Politics

Posted: September 4, 2008 - 4:11 pm

From David Hulen in Anchorage --

Update: I'd forgotten about this, but as a reader points out: How does Hickel's endorsement of Palin jibe with his early and enthusiastic endorsement of Obama? He wrote in January: "If I were 20 years younger, I would find him and ask, 'What can I do?' And I would tell him that Alaska can help our country fulfill his vision." Another reader points out below that Hickel recently told a reporter that Palin has to be replaced as governor.

Original post: Former Gov. Wally Hickel was a strong supporter in Sarah Palin's run for governor in 2006, and stood side by side with her on election night. He supported her through much of her term. But relations went bad this summer over her AGIA pipeline plan and Hickel's long-standing desire for an "all-Alaskan" line.

Wes Loy detailed the feud here in July, and the 89-year-old Hickel wrote an opinion column blasting Palin and her gas line plan last month.

Today, Hickel's office e-mailed this:

Statement by the Honorable Walter J. Hickel, twice governor of Alaska and former Secretary of the Interior and Co-Chair of the 2006 Palin for Governor campaign

ENDORSEMENT OF GOVERNOR PALIN

For the record, I am not a Republican, a Democrat or an Independent. I’m an Alaskan. All my life I have put Alaska first. Let’s not divide Alaska. That’s why I am endorsing Governor Sarah Palin today in her bid to become Vice President.

Senator John McCain’s decision to nominate her as his running mate put Alaska on center stage nationally, and our governor is using this opportunity to present the reality of Alaska with all its benefits to the nation. And any time she needs help, I’ll be there.

With leadership from the White House, new sources of energy combined with resources from Alaska and the Arctic, can transform America into an energy exporter.

As Governor Palin knows well, Alaska also has other roles to play in world affairs. Alaska is a model for commonly-owned regions, including our Arctic neighbors, Africa and elsewhere. In sharing our experience, Gov. Palin can help parts of the world still locked in poverty.

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8 September 6, 2008 - 4:42pm | lom

Mr. Hickel

it takes a very good man to put aside his differences and lend a hand--it is in Alaska's best interest. I hope more Alaskans are inspired by your selfless service to our Great State. Thank you.

7 September 6, 2008 - 12:55pm | Emperor

I have always...

...admired Governor Hickle. But his decision to support McCain/Palin simply because Palin is from Alaska is truly disheartening.

September 8, 2008 - 5:13pm | katie_doe

Emperor

He just wants her out of Alaska. She'll do less harm to the state if she's in DC.

September 8, 2008 - 7:31pm | rfn

In a perfect world,

Vice President Palin would enjoy eight years as VP followed by eight more as President.

Mr. Parnell, narrowly losing to Mr. Young and Mr. Young thumping Mr. Berkowitz-Pelosi, would serve out the next couple of years as Governor then, depending on how quickly The FBI and the courts get their job done, would go on to serve Alaska in Washington as well.

The downside is that the boy mayor likely would become the boy governor. However, we survived Murkowski, so we'd adapt. If we were lucky.

6 September 5, 2008 - 5:43am | truthgazer

Oh, Wally, please!

You are not just a registered Republican, you are a strong Republican. You donate to every tom, dick and sally from the valley as long as they have an R in front of their names. Please stop with the "I am an Alaskan," first and tell us that you are a Republican first. That said, you have earned a good deal of respect from all Alaskans. Just be honest about your political affiliation and how completely entrenched you are in the Republican party and their directives.

5 September 5, 2008 - 12:28am | tlamb775

He isn't paying attention:

"...With leadership from the White House, new sources of energy combined with resources from Alaska and the Arctic, can transform America into an energy exporter."

I don't think exporting "energy" was in the plan.

Energy exporter? He still or whoever it is, is still pushing an LNG project.

Guess he and Whittaker (we don't have gangs in Fairbanks) must be saying awe shucks when they came out for Obama.

4 September 4, 2008 - 11:17pm | stumpy01

We might need a new governor soon...

I wonder if Wally would serve just long enough until we can get the all Alaska Gasline project underway????

3 September 4, 2008 - 7:41pm | dab

Way to go Wally

Your a real statesman---Thank You

2 September 4, 2008 - 4:54pm | katie_doe

Before he endorsed her, he wanted her replaced.

Hickel on Palin: 'we've got to replace her'

At one point, Hickel expressed his unhappiness with Gov. Sarah Palin, who last month pushed the Alaska Legislature to grant Calgary-based TransCanada an exclusive state license to build a multibillion-dollar natural gas pipeline. Hickel, of course, has long favored an “all-Alaska gas line,” with the pipe running to Valdez, where the gas would be turned to liquid and shipped on refrigerated vessels. When Palin was running for governor in 2006, Hickel appeared in advertisements supporting her and the Alaska pipeline.

"I made her governor," Hickel told me, “but when she did that deal with the Canadians, I wrote her a letter and I told her, ‘I’m never going to support you again.’ Now we’ve got to replace her."

September 4, 2008 - 5:48pm | rfn

One must really admire

Governor Hickel.

Willing to sacrifice his personal feelings when he realizes what's best for the country!

September 4, 2008 - 6:01pm | Cartman3_15

A true statesman.

Others could take a lesson.

September 4, 2008 - 6:05pm | katie_doe

Or maybe

he just wants her the hell out of Alaska!

September 6, 2008 - 12:58am | cigi

we felt the same way too..

Texans felt the same way too and looked at the mess that created. The unintended consequences are always
the hardest to live with sometimes.

September 4, 2008 - 6:08pm | rfn

Obama really was pretty close

in his assessment of bitterness.

It's just that he missed completely on who's bitter and why. But he's not all that familiar with Alaska.

September 4, 2008 - 6:16pm | katie_doe

Wally's not bitter.

Even though Sarah did throw him under the bus.

September 4, 2008 - 6:19pm | rfn

Nice try.

Failed.

There is a wealth of bitterness among Valley based Vic Kohring admirers which Mr. Obama might mine were he to take time out of his busy schedule of denigrating innocent children. Well, not himself; his handmaidens. But even they need occasional encouragement to perform at their best.

1 September 4, 2008 - 4:25pm | HD

Long live Governor Hickel!

Thanks, Walter J. Hickel, for your life of service to Alaska and the USA. I first admired you during your brief time as Secretary of the Interior, but moreso over the years because of your selfless dedication to the people of this great State of Alaska. God bless you!

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