Alas, turns out the answer is no. Sitting Republican governors, especially one scheduled to make a speech, automatically get passes for themselves and their spouses.
However, GOP earwigs report, the Palinistas did have to apply to Randy for a pass for Sarah's new press secretary, Bill McAllister.
When Ear last checked on Thursday, the application was pending.
Oil-rich Ear doesn't really care who's paying for all this so didn't ask.
OMG ... Vic Vickers, that guy from Florida running in the Republican Senate primary here, was on the Dan Fagan radio talk show Thursday. At one point former Rep. Gail Phillips called in. Dan asked Vickers if he knew Gail, former speaker of the House. "Well, I know the name," Vickers said. Feigning deep thought, Dan "remembered" that Gail's termas speaker was right after Maria Downey's and right before John Carpenter's.
Vickers allowed as how that was correct. Are you familiar, asked Dan, with any of these people? A little bit, said Vickers.
Fagan: "A little bit? OK."
Vickers: "From a historical standpoint."
All this on the air for the amusement of Dan's fans. Ear can almost feel sorry for the rich carpetbagger. .Almost, but not quite.
POLITICAL DELIGHTS ...Tony Knowles in a kuspuk? Yes, d'Ears, the state Democratic Party says it's costuming the entire Alaska delegation to the upcoming Democratic National Convention in kuspuks, and Tony Knowles is a delegate.
Poor Tony. He can't really refuse to wear it. And these are Laura Wright originals, so really nice, but Tony is just not a kuspuk kind of guy.
Someone send Ear a photo. Please.
ON THE ROAD ... The Obama campaign announced last week that Holly Stebing of Anchorage is one of 10 people from 10 states selected for a junket called "Backstage with Barack." Holly, 20, says she made a couple of small donations, wrote an essay and someone from national headquarters in Chicago interviewed her over the phone. Holly will get airfare, accommodations and a private meeting with Obama before his acceptance speech at the convention on Thursday. And she gets to bring a guest -- her mom, Ella Anagick, an Anchorage attorney and one of the Fabulous Anagick Sisters of Unalakleet.
And David Kellner-Rode, 19, of Wasilla is one of 25 Pages for Dem chairman Howard Dean. David was born and raised in Wasilla, son of Abby and Andre Kellner-Rode.
TRASH TALK ... You can tell Ted and Don are actually worried about winning an election -- for the first time in years. Their TV ads are surprisingly good, zeroing right in on our outsized and unearned sense of entitlement. Dare Ear say greed?
"Without Ted we're toast," a woman declares in a Stevens ad. It's an effective message: No Ted, no cascades of cash for the thousands of Alaskans (many professed anti-government types) who have lived for years off millions in government earmarks and favors and hope to continue doing so.
Art Hackney's new commercial for Don Young, Congressman for Everyone Who Voted for Him, is brilliant -- the one where normal looking people "complain" that Darling Don just does too much for us, and Don, arms spread against a mountain scene, promises to keep on doing too much for us if we just re-elect him.
Two days before the election, Ear's favorite campaign trash talk is Don calling Sean Parnell "Capt. Zero."
As Heather Flynn used to say, "We get the government we deserve."
VERBATIM ... Speaking of Heather, her son, Assemblyman Patrick Flynn, and a community colleague, received the following invitation to speak. He won't say who sent it.
"As the Assembly Reprehensive and Council Chair for the area, we would like to invite the two of you to make a few remarks during the event."
SHAME ... Friends of lobbyist Ashley Reed, charged with filing required APOC forms chronically late, say former A.G. Charlie Cole will represent him at his initial court hearing. Those same friends claim to be embarrassed that Ashley has been exposed as an "underachiever." In this world of felony corruption, all he could manage was a couple of misdemeanors, said one.
SURPRISE ... Guess who showed up Tuesday at the Rasmuson fundraiser for Ted Stevens? After bad-mouthing Ted and saying it was time for him to go? Wally Hickel, the man who put Ted in office back in the ice age. Guests report mouths agape as Hickel walked in.
NEW FACES ... HuffingtonPost.com reports Anchorage is getting two new TV news anchors, both at KTVA Channel 11 for the 6 p.m. broadcast. One is Matthew Felling, a former CBS online guy and morning radio host from Washington, D.C. The other, Dianne Baker, perhaps from Wyoming. The change is set for Sept. 15. But hey, its just a blurb on a blog. Check it out.
WELL GREASED ... Ear hears the Vaseline people are in Kodiak shooting a series of commercials for some new product, using the population of the island as actors and backdrop. They're "sharing their skin and personal experience. ... reality style," according to one promoter.
OUT AND ABOUT ... Ex-lobbyist and ex-con Bill Bobrick is back in town. An earmite spotted him tooling down Fifth Avenue during a break in the rain Wednesday in his black 1966 Cadillac convertible.
HE'S HOME ... Former Mayor George Sullivan finally got out of the hospital last week, after successful treatment for cancer and an infection. The family says he's doing well and is really, really happy to be home.
TOUCHDOWN ... Apparently Alaska is going to have a float in the Rose Bowl Parade on Jan. 1. The ACVB says sponsors will pay $200,000 for design and construction of a "floral float" with our 50th anniversary of statehood as the theme. And what "floral" stuff will be available from Alaska in December-January? Arctic roses, fireweed, birch bark and mosses, all indigenous to Alaska. But perhaps the actual plants used won't be grown here.
Perhaps.
Compiled by Sheila Toomey. Find Ear online at adn.com/ear. Contact Ear at stoomey@adn.com
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