Some may ask if I am running as an Alaska Native Woman. That wouldn’t be fair, as the other candidates are not asked if they are running as Non Native Men or Women.

However, I believe that it’s about time someone showed them how Native Women do things downtown.

When I’m sworn in as Governor of Alaska, I intend to serve No Compromise Soup at my Inauguration. I look forward to serving the People of Alaska and I look forward to being the Best Governor Alaska Ever Had.

Unfortunately, what inspires the occasionally-involved to vote is not competence, or policy, but charisma. I am not generally pro-charisma, since I have none myself, and it’s just as likely to get you Palin as Obama. But it can be powerful, especially with an uncommitted electorate. Or even with a fairly committed one — I’ve lived in CA through both Ronnie and Arnold, and the state was still generally blue during both their terms.

The reason I say “unfortunately” in this case is that so far the only Dem with any charisma is Ethan, and history seems to indicate that it is insufficient. This is not, by the way, intended to insult Bob Poe or Hollis French, both of whom appear to be outstanding, accomplished and admirable folks. Lack of charisma is not a personal failing; it’s just a characteristic, like height or hair color. But in present AK politics, lack of charisma in a Democrat probably means being doomed to 41% of the vote.

Alaskan progressives will have to make a difficult choice, and it would be good if they make it as soon as possible (to allow for unity to be established before the general election). And the choice is (IMO): do you want the 2010 election to be a vote on principle, or a vote on electability? If you choose principle, you might support Bob, or Hollis, or Ethan, or Diane perhaps. You will almost certainly lose, unless Captain Zero screws up massively.

If you choose electability, I think you have to unite behind Ethan, as soon as possible. I am aware from this blog and others that there is a level of opposition to him based on being a “city boy”, but over half of Alaska lives in cities, whether they want to admit it or not. He’s already got name recognition, and he has some charisma, which will become more noticeable in the general election when he will be compared to Cap 0. (Think Bush-Gore). You’ll probably still lose, but the odds will be as short as you can get next year.

It’s a tough decision, but progressives can control it if they get to grips with it quickly. One thing about there being only 15% declared Democrats — it’s likely that almost all of you belong to the Democratic wing of the party.

Alaska is fully stuck in the “Thar’s more over the next hill, boys!” paradigm that much of western America is only beginning to think through as gone, gone, gone…
Development to spur the economy after WWII long ago hardened into development -for-development’s -sake to the point of being some sacred shrine folks worship at…
Here in Alaska , as through much of the west, it has the peculiar flavor of being thought an independant, self-sufficient, self-sustaining activity…PHHHT.
For those who take their paycheck home, vote the way the AK Republican Party demands or scares them into to keep that job and paycheck I say PHHHTT…
“Sold your soul to the company store ” is the name of that tune…

It IS the future for our children and grandchildren which matters… it is what our true work is, neighbor- you are right about that.
Our names , we everyday people, are really only made in the circles of our everyday lives.
We need to do what we can to drag folks’ eyes off some faraway non-existent horizon of frontier-ness and focus on what we are handing our children… THAT is where we will make good names for ourselves.
Mr Poe – I got to meet him briefly… and his brilliant wife. VERY impressive folks..
Mr Rob Rosenfeld… where are you Rob? VERY impressive background of work in a variety of fields which address the here and now challenges of much of Alaska… most of which urban Alaska is ignoring…
Whether we manage to shift the 41% thingy or not, we will have work to do.

Mr Parnell seems to be shoring up a badly shaken ship of state… if it translates into a full term next go around, we will have to make the most of our 41%
And , given likely loss of Legislative seats , after redistricting , soon – for the bulk of our state not concentrated in Anchorage and the valley- we better start NOW fine-tuning and amplifying what we want.

Referring to above remark of the Republicans taking over when oil was discovered by moving there in droves, why can´t the same be done with Dems?

Not that I’m not also from Outside, but I did get moved here at 15, came back after adventures out, and am NOT an R (then again I don’t live up there in Anch. or the MadZoo either).