Ryan, Parnell & Stealing Underpants for Profit
Ever get that feeling that something happening to you right now is also something that has happened to you before? It’s agonizing, as you attempt and fail to put your finger on the memory, hidden deep within your cranium, behind the thought of an almost forgotten relative or a previous place of residence. You think: “Where have I seen this before? Iknow I’ve been here.” But it doesn’t come to you. It’s like the echo of a chorus to an annoyingly ambiguous song, violently stuck in your head – staying just far enough inside the shadows that you can’t mentally Shazam…
Spouse for Senate!
Spouse is running for Senate. I know, right? It’s been pretty exciting around here I can tell you. He’s running for State Senate in “District N” a giant and beautiful swath of Alaska that stretches from South Anchorage, down Turnagain Arm to include Girdwood, and Hope, and then over to Seward, and on to Sterling and Nikiski, with all points in between. Every race is important but, I’m going to tell you why this one is the most important to me. When Ron was a little kid, living in Anderson in the Territory of Alaska – back in the days…
Alaska’s Junior Senator Visits Seniors
It was the early ’90’s. My dad was reading the morning paper and grumbled about some assemblyman in Anchorage and muttered something about Doogie Howser. My college friend and I were joining him for breakfast and I told her that he was talking about Mark Begich. She laughed and asked if my dad knew about my crush on him. My dad looked up in a mock look of condescension and said, “You have a crush on who, Mark Begich or Doogie Howser?” My girlfriend and I laughed and in unison said, “Yes!” My dad was of course only joking. He had…
Bob Bell Enabled Corrupt Bastards
I sometimes wonder if it wouldn’t be more honest for us to turn our elections into auctions. Put a law or candidate on eBay and let the bidding begin. Of course school lunch subsidies, minimum wage and other “special interests” wouldn’t have a hope, but a governor willing to give $10 billion to the oil industry would be going-going-gone in seconds. Wait a minute … Did I forget? We used to have public policy on the auction block. A company called Veco Corp., which depended on Alaska’s oil majors to survive, purchased favors from elected politicians for decades. That finally…
A Sunday Smile – Baby Walruses!
Here’s a fantastic update on the two orphaned baby walruses that were rescued this summer, and rehabilitated at the Alaska SeaLife Center in Seward. Get ready to “awwww!” Here’s a story from the Big Apple where one of the two walruses was adopted!
Oyster Roundup – Lights, Fights, & That’s-Not-Rights
A half-dozen news bites from the week. Overheard Juicy Bits: A certain Alaska Republican Party Chairman and a certain Republican pollster were overheard at a certain eating establishment by a certain Mudflatter this week. Apparently, the former thinks Charisse Millet is “a twit” and candidate Bob Roses is a “yes man” who will do whatever he’s told. That’s what we need more of in Juneau – twits and sheep. Please feel free to vote for Patti Higgins and Bill Wielechowski. Convicted Militiaman Will Appeal: Coleman Barney, one of the three men found guilty in the summer’s Fairbanks militia trial will…
Parnell Headlines Evangelical Fundraiser to Break Up Bipartisan Coalition
Governor Sean Parnell will headline a fundraiser today at 4:30pm for Alaska Family Action, the political wing of the Alaska Family Council headed by Jim Minnery. The Alaska Family Council is an activist group whose “pro family” agenda includes promoting extreme anti-choice and homophobic policies. They also advocate public funding of private religious schools, and other “matters of religious liberty.” And try to screw up elections by encouraging voter fraud. So, why is a sitting governor headlining this fundraiser? The answer is two-fold. First, it is because he aligns with everything espoused by the organization. His extreme stances on social…
Preaching Politics from the Petroleum Pulpit
“Are you a pastor, elder or church leader? The Alaska Family Council would like to buy you breakfast at the Petroleum Club on Friday, October 5th at 9:00am. Pastor Voddie Baucham will be presenting on why pastors should be involved in matters related to civic engagement.” Because that’s where Jesus would invite you to breakfast… That, believe it or not, is part of the email that was sent out last month from Jim Minnery and the Alaska Family Council. “The Alaska Family Council and our legislative arm, Alaska Family Action, believes very strongly that church leaders should bring cultural issues,…
Ignorance on Ice
A few weeks ago during a power outage that lasted (for some) several days, meat and fish made round trips from powerless freezers to powered and back again. Pleas from melting vacuum-sealed salmon, halibut, moose and caribou could almost be heard across the Anchorage Bowl, “We’re melting. We need a live freezer — STAT!” This is the time of year when many Alaskans count their bags of berries, jars of salmon and packs of moose sausage. If you’re a subsistence user, there’s a feeling of accomplishment knowing you hunted or gathered to take care of your family. Going to Costco…
Oyster Roundup!
~Thick and fast they came at last, and more, and more and more! Happy Saturday, you gorgeous Mudflatters. Here’s a slurpy, brunchy, half-dozen bites for your weekend palate. Quote of the Week: On Mitt Romney’s plan to defund PBS, aka “Kill Big Bird.” “I like Big Bird… You can kill things and still like them – maybe to eat them.” ~Rick Santorum Naked Baker Charms Anchorage Press Pick Voters So, every year, hundreds of hardy souls vote for dozens of their favorite bakeries, auto shops, pizza joints, and of course – politicians. This year’s picks were… interesting…