Palin Circus Update

Just one more day in the bizarre politics of Alaska. There's a fight over who to appoint to an open state Senate seat. Well, let's just let Mudflats tell the rest:

The Democrats and the Republicans came together for brief and rare Kumbaya moment. They gazed into each others eyes warily, but knowing that this situation was bigger than they were. The captain of this ship had turned some kind of corner and was steering the whole ship toward the rocks. So, they got together and decided on a name together. Beth Kerttula (D) from Juneau, and John Harris (R) both put their APPROVED stamp on former Juneau Mayor Dennis Egan. Here was someone they could both live with. The rest of the Democrats agreed. Surely that would meet with the governor’s approval. Everyone would save face, the ship would be turned back on course, the tantrum would end, and we could all get back to business.

Right? Ahhhh…. surely you didn’t think that would be the end of the story did you? I didn’t think you did. Because you’re still waiting for that part in the beginning where I said “you can’t make this stuff up.” Here goes.

Palin has now submitted ….a list of three names. Yes, folks, it’s backwards day in Juneau! She didn’t like the fact that it was the other side that was supposed to submit a list of names, so she just went ahead and did it herself. And who’s on the list? The first name is Tim Grussendorf. “Hold on a minute,” you may be thinking. “Hasn’t he already been rejected?” Why, yes he has. Soundly. And so has the second nominee, Joe Nelson. And the third name? No, of course it’s not Dennis Egan. That would make sense, and be a brilliant diplomatic move, showing….wisdom and maturity. No, Dennis, like Kerttula fell victim to the big red REJECTED stamp.

Enter Alan Wilson, name #3. Nobody knows much about Alan Wilson. The Division of Elections tells us that Alan Wilson is not a registered Democrat, although Palin’s spokeswoman Sharon Leighow tells us he is too. He converted on March 4. And this means that the third and final candidate has not only been chosen from outside the Democrats’ list, but According to the Division of Elections at the time of his nomination, he is ineligible to hold the seat.

And just for a little added enjoyment, public records tell us that he’s married to one Sydney Mitchell, who owns a little shop in Juneau called Shoefly. Those of you who are Sarah Palin trivia junkies will remember that Shoefly is where Sarah Palin purchased her infamous pair of red Naughty Monkey pumps, that were sold on Ebay for $2025.